Windowless cockpits and virtual reality: The flying doughnut isn’t Airbus’ wackiest patent November 17, 2014 Airbus has a long and varied history of weird and wacky patents (more on which later), but this takes the biscuit. Er, doughnut. The aircraft manufacturer has filed a patent application for flying doughnuts – because apparently, aircraft cabins shaped like the snack are excellent at containing the stresses of pressurised cabins. The [...]
IFA 2014: Samsung unveils new curved screen Galaxy Note Edge, Galaxy Note 4, Gear S smartwatch and virtual reality headset Gear VR September 3, 2014 Samsung has unveiled four new devices, including two Galaxy Notes, a smartwatch and a virtual reality headset. The Korean manufacturer has pipped rival Apple to the post with a big launch event at tech conference IFA in Berlin today. Two new “phablet” devices- larger than a smartphone, but not quite a tablet- in the Galaxy [...]
BSkyB invests in virtual reality video startup Jaunt July 28, 2014 BSkyB is investing nearly half a million dollars in Jaunt, an immersive video startup which is developing ways to bring the cinema experience to virtual reality devices. The $400,000 funding is the second round of investment in the California-based company for Sky, previously investing $350,000 in the early stage startup at the end of last [...]
Facebook’s Oculus eyes consumer virtual reality device with acquisition June 25, 2014 Oculus, the virtual reality technology company owned by Facebook, has bought the product design firm best known for creating the Xbox 360 controller as it aims to take its VR device into the mainstream. Seattle-based Carbon Design was snapped up by Oculus for an undisclosed sum, it said in a blog post published on the Oculus website. [...]
Virtual reality is here (almost)… March 26, 2014 Late on Tuesday, Facebook announced their acquisition of virtual reality start-up Oculus VR for $2bn. Here, Alex Dymoke gives the low-down on what many predict is the future of gaming and home entertainment THE HISTORYOculus VR started life in 2011 in the Californian garage belonging to the parents of 19-year-old virtual reality enthusiast and self-taught [...]
Facebook in $2bn virtual reality buyout March 25, 2014 SOCIAL media giant Facebook has bought Oculus, a virtual reality gaming firm, for $2bn. The shock deal saw Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg pay $400m in cash and 23.1m in Facebook shares, as well as a $300m cash incentive if certain key milestones are reached. “Mobile is the platform of today, and now we’re also getting [...]